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The Best Match All Week Was In Newport, Kozlov vs Wu
Most tennis fans missed the best match of the week as The Championships overshadowed the ATP 125 Challenger Cerity Partners Hall of Fame Open this week.
Stefan Kozlov vs Yibing Wu was a first round duel played on Wednesday after two straight days of non stop rain. Kozlov, ranked just outside 300, qualified for main draw with two quality wins vs underrated Aidan Mayo and ultra consistent Garrett Johns. Newport was his first action since a Challenger in Spain a month and a half ago. 5th seed Wu, ranked 102 came to Newport with a strong aura as he nearly upset Djokovic in the first round of Wimbledon, forcing the Serbian titan to four tough sets. Every set was close and Wu could have won the match, it was that tight.
Wu’s level in the opening games vs Kozlov looked like the Djokovic level he performed at last week, hitting heavyweight strikes with his orange Head Radical to take a 2-love lead. Kozlov was in danger of being steamrolled but as he has done so many times since turning pro in 2013, he solved the puzzle and raised his game mixing things up with precision and guts. Kozlov won the first set 64 with the help of his three man box of spirited energy and support.
Wu settled down and came out firing again in set two after some counsel from coach Dante Bottini. Wu mixed up his power with drop shots and net approaches and took a commanding lead. He eventually won the set 62 to force a decider.
Wu’s momentum continued in the third set on a packed court 3. We looked too powerful and lead 42. At that point, two WTA players Cadence Brace of Canada and Katrina Scott of USA, arrived to the court to support Stefan as they are friends with Stefan’s younger brother Boris. They were also at Kozlov’s 64 62 win in qualies vs Johns.
Amazing Kozlov turned it up a notch. A few small details were noticeable. Kozlov started a running baseball banter with his box between points. After some big points he would make references to baseball lingo, like Aaron Judge, Senga (Mets pitcher with a 0-9 record), relief pitcher coming in men on second and third, and some others I can’t remember exactly.
Bottom line is Kozlov was finding a way to make the tension of the match fun. At one point near the end when the match was getting out of his control, Wu questioned the chair umpire apparently about what Kozlov was saying to his box. Wu had no idea what the baseball banter was about. Bottini was unable to properly respond other than obligatory basic clapping and cliches.
Incredibly Kozlov pulled some rabbits out of his hat and won four games in a row to snatch the match 64 in the third. Nobody was more shocked than Wu, who again played outrageously well but lost for the second week in a row. Tennis is a cruel game isn’t it?
On the final point, net volley exchange, Kozlov won it and briefly fell on his back for a half second like some players do when winning a big title. The handshake was cordial and respectful, it was an extraordinary duel. Fans lined up after thrilled and excited to get a close look at the victor and offer words of admiration and inspiration. Kozlov walked off a hero and I carried his bag which was so heavy it felt like two bowling balls were inside.
The buzz in the players lounge area was that it was Kozlov’s “biggest win in a long time,” as my source told me Mackenzie McDonald said.
Kozlov had to play to play two hours later vs Jake Fearnley, fell behind again 02 but found his game and prevailed in first set 63. Up 20 in set two Kozlov suddenly seemed to lose some intensity and the Brit capitalized and never looked back. It is always a challenge to play a second match two hours after a monster win which most players want to relax and savor for a day, not play again. Fearnley did not have to play two qualies matches and had more in the tank despite also winning a match earlier in the day vs Mark Lajal 75 36 61.
But Kozlov vs Wu was one of the most unforgettable matches I ever saw anywhere actually and it was more thrilling than anything at Wimbledon this year.
For the win Kozlov earned $3895 and 8 ATP points and the chance to earn $6800 and 16 points. Wu pocketed $2255 for losing first round.
Hall of Fame Open · Newport · Novak Djokovic · Stefan Kozlov · Yibing Wu
